Weather Report-Birdland

joeybeats · #1 04-13-2007, 02:32 AM

A younger Erskine, playing a tasty classic with Weather Report.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqash...elated&search=

hawk9290 · #2 04-13-2007, 03:04 AM

ironically I watched the same video earlier today. I'm playing that song in front of some Yamaha, Paiste, Shure, Toca, Vic Firth, etc people and Ndugu Chancler this week, so I've been trying to watch every form to give me as many ideas as possible. good video though!

DogBreath · #3 04-13-2007, 05:16 AM

Great to see Mr. Erskine at such an age! Thanks.

gusty · #4 04-13-2007, 02:13 PM

Jaco! Awsome, aswell as Peter.

Paul Quin · #5 04-13-2007, 02:33 PM

Great clip: thanks! I just love the way these guys work together and the sense of feel they generate. I guess when you put Zawinul (a truly undersung genius of the jazz idiom), Jaco (maybe the greatest bass player of all time), Wayne Shorter and Erskine together it shouldn't be s surprise that what you get is pure magic. And, all props to Pete for wearing that hair shirt - must have been very uncomfortable.

Paul

rockinrider · #6 04-13-2007, 02:51 PM

Thanks for that!!!

Ahhhh...to be back in the days of going shirtless in concert! (and not frightening the audience).

That tune will be stuck in my head and bring joy for the rest of the day.

Thank you, joeybeats.

murphinelli · #7 04-13-2007, 03:39 PM

well, that made my day. thanks!

Drummer Karl · #8 04-13-2007, 04:55 PM

Incredible.
And the young Peter Erskine...without shirt. That is great, but what would he say about this when seeing this? :-)

thanks for that video, the melody and the rhythm are great!

Karl

murphinelli · #9 04-16-2007, 03:45 PM

Looks like there's a new Jaco DVD just out. Looks like some of the same crew is on this. Including Mr. Hairy Drummer...

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=25295

joeybeats · #10 04-16-2007, 07:04 PM

OK, I'll hijack my own thread.

Jaco is a god to most bass players ... just ask the bass player in your group. Listen to any of his recordings and you will hear some amazing stuff. No surprise that Erskine and Jaco played together after leaving Weather Report.

Apparently, Jaco suffered from the same illness that ended the career of Jim Gordon, who is now institutionalized in California. (Hijack #2 ... Gordon was one of my favorite drummers as a young man. Among his bazillion accomplishments, he also wrote the piano passage for Layla and played with Clapton on the record, arguably one of the greatest songs of all time. Also a protege of Hal Blaine ... Read his CV... it will knock you out. He has a page here at DW.
http://drummerworld.com/drummers/Jim_Gordon.html )

There are many stories on the net about Jaco and how he lived a tragic life his last few years. He was a victim of homicide at 35. Joey

aydee · #11 08-31-2007, 05:51 PM

thanks, Joey. This band was a turning point/landmark in my life, and Jaco, has had the single biggest impact on my musical journey.

The 1st time I saw them live at Avery Fischer Hall NYC, 1982, was a day I'll never forget. I can still feel the goose pimples, when I think of that day.

Erskine's playing has changed quite a bit since then. He was a pretty powerful player back then.

spleen · #12 08-31-2007, 06:16 PM

My friend (keyboardist Scott Kinsey) and I worshipped these guys when we were growing up, something that will come as no surprise to those familiar with Scott's playing and music. I remember that Jaco was killed shortly after we began college--everyone was completely devestated.

spleen

aydee · #13 08-31-2007, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spleen

My friend (keyboardist Scott Kinsey) and I worshipped these guys when we were growing up, something that will come as no surprise to those familiar with Scott's playing and music. I remember that Jaco was killed shortly after we began college--everyone was completely devestated.

spleen

Scott Kinsey is your friend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He is the BOMB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

love him with tribal tech and now his band .Spleen, tell him, there are people trying to get him to perform with his group in India..again!!!! The abstractlogix.com guy is keen to get him to come down and Im the guy talking to potential sponsors!!!! Awesome Please bow deeply to him on my behalf!

aydee · #14 08-31-2007, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spleen

My friend (keyboardist Scott Kinsey) and I worshipped these guys when we were growing up, something that will come as no surprise to those familiar with Scott's playing and music. I remember that Jaco was killed shortly after we began college--everyone was completely devestated.

spleen

I used to live on W4th st in NYC ,his last few years. Played basketball with him, and occassionally bought him a big mac.And heard many,"disastarous gigs" all around the village, wiith Hiram Bullock, Mike Stern, Kennwood Dennard.at the Blue note, where he played for 15 minutes and collapsed on stage ( no one asked for a refund )!!! what a time that was, and what a cat! He was my hero.

spleen · #15 08-31-2007, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aydee

I used to live on W4th st in NYC ,his last few years. Played basketball with him, and occassionally bought him a big mac.And heard many,"disastarous gigs" all around the village, wiith Hiram Bullock, Mike Stern, Kennwood Dennard.at the Blue note, where he played for 15 minutes and collapsed on stage ( no one asked for a refund )!!! what a time that was, and what a cat! He was my hero.

Wow, that's awesome that you were able to spend some time and have some contact with Jaco. I heard many of the same stories and it's really just such a tragedy how things ended for him. I'm a psychotherapist and I can't help but wonder if things might have been different had somebody been successful in helping him. It's been 20 years but I still feel the incredible loss that we all took when he passed.

spleen

#16 08-31-2007, 08:09 PM

one of the most incredible songs ever...i love it....on constant play on my itunes....love the bass harmonics...

Jaco was a genius....

respect...

the skin man · #17 09-01-2007, 05:27 AM

It sounds like Peter Erskine comes in at a faster tempo than Joe Zawinul is playing at the beginning.

aydee · #18 09-01-2007, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the skin man

It sounds like Peter Erskine comes in at a faster tempo than Joe Zawinul is playing at the beginning.

Story also goes that, Zawinul threatened Erskine about playing 16th note fills. Told him, he'd fire him if he ever heard him playing one. Guess it was a dramatic attempt at avoiding cliches.

aydee · #19 09-01-2007, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spleen

My friend (keyboardist Scott Kinsey) and I worshipped these guys when we were growing up, something that will come as no surprise to those familiar with Scott's playing and music. I remember that Jaco was killed shortly after we began college--everyone was completely devestated.

spleen

Zawinul has tagged Scott as the next 'keeper of the legacy". Spleen, here's a clip of Scott,very 'Zawinulesque' with matt garrison, and covington at a gig in India a few years back:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SBl-pho4cc

spleen · #20 09-02-2007, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aydee

Story also goes that, Zawinul threatened Erskine about playing 16th note fills. Told him, he'd fire him if he ever heard him playing one. Guess it was a dramatic attempt at avoiding cliches.

The story I heard is that Joe also threatened to "kick his @$$" if he ever heard Erskine play one of those cliche 16th note based fills (e.g., the big Phil Collins "In the Air Tonight" fill). : )

spleen

spleen · #21 09-02-2007, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aydee

Zawinul has tagged Scott as the next 'keeper of the legacy". Spleen, here's a clip of Scott,very 'Zawinulesque' with matt garrison, and covington at a gig in India a few years back:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SBl-pho4cc

Thanks for that Aydee--I've seen that clip before and it's great. Were you at that gig?

Scott's music has always been heavily influenced by Joe and he is certainly the one who got me hip to his music (as well as lots of other wonderful music). In high school we listened to Weather Report all the time and even played some of their tunes at little gigs in our hometown. We also used to compose and then perform songs during our high school band concerts that were, as you say, very "Zawinulisque." If I remember correctly, Scott even had a poster of Joe on his bedroom wall.

For many reasons, Zawinul's work has always resonated very strongly with Scott so it's no surprise to me that he is continuing Joe's legacy while also creating his own.

spleen

aydee · #22 09-02-2007, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spleen

Thanks for that Aydee--I've seen that clip before and it's great. Were you at that gig?

Scott's music has always been heavily influenced by Joe and he is certainly the one who got me hip to his music (as well as lots of other wonderful music). In high school we listened to Weather Report all the time and even played some of their tunes at little gigs in our hometown. We also used to compose and then perform songs during our high school band concerts that were, as you say, very "Zawinulisque." If I remember correctly, Scott even had a poster of Joe on his bedroom wall.

For many reasons, Zawinul's work has always resonated very strongly with Scott so it's no surprise to me that he is continuing Joe's legacy while also creating his own.

spleen

No, I wasn't unfortunately. It was in a very remote place.

My 'growing years' were very similar, music-wise. teen town, a remark you made, Birdland, black market, gibraltor,punk jazz were all part of our 'early days' set -lists too.

Never impressed the girls with that stuff, but had a lot of guys offering their services as roadies and devotees ; )

For, me though, WR was never the same without Jaco. I remember going to see them at the Palladium in NYC, and discovering, along with thousands of other fans, that the bass player on stage was'nt Jaco, but someone else ( Victor Bailey). The sense of disappointment that collectively swept through the entire hall was palpable. That for me was a kind closing of a chapter. Some of the Z syndicate stuff is terrific, but it doesnt have the magic of Jaco, and Weather Report.

Scott Kinsey and his music, all with some other new young turks have ,in a way, filled that space in my heart, and its exciting to follow their career and music.

spleen · #23 09-03-2007, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aydee

My 'growing years' were very similar, music-wise. teen town, a remark you made, Birdland, black market, gibraltor,punk jazz were all part of our 'early days' set -lists too.

Never impressed the girls with that stuff, but had a lot of guys offering their services as roadies and devotees ; )

For, me though, WR was never the same without Jaco. I remember going to see them at the Palladium in NYC, and discovering, along with thousands of other fans, that the bass player on stage was'nt Jaco, but someone else ( Victor Bailey). The sense of disappointment that collectively swept through the entire hall was palpable. That for me was a kind closing of a chapter. Some of the Z syndicate stuff is terrific, but it doesnt have the magic of Jaco, and Weather Report.

Scott Kinsey and his music, all with some other new young turks have ,in a way, filled that space in my heart, and its exciting to follow their career and music.

Wow, it does sound like we had a very similar musical "coming of age." Great, great music that I still love to hear! Hey, didn't Tony Williams play on "Punk Jazz?"

Scott and I really got into the pre- and post-Jaco stuff as well but you're right, it was never the same as the years he spent with the band. But I still love those recordings--sometimes I put on "Sportin' Life" and my 5-year-old daughter loves to dance around the room to it. To me, that speaks volumes about what that music is all about.

That's quite a story about that Palladium gig--was Omar on that gig as well?

regards,

spleen

aydee · #24 09-03-2007, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spleen

Wow, it does sound like we had a very similar musical "coming of age." Great, great music that I still love to hear! Hey, didn't Tony Williams play on "Punk Jazz?"

Scott and I really got into the pre- and post-Jaco stuff as well but you're right, it was never the same as the years he spent with the band. But I still love those recordings--sometimes I put on "Sportin' Life" and my 5-year-old daughter loves to dance around the room to it. To me, that speaks volumes about what that music is all about.

That's quite a story about that Palladium gig--was Omar on that gig as well?

regards,

spleen

Yes, Mr. Z threw a whole new rhythm section surprise at us. That was Omar's first gig as well.

Heres the punch-line to that story- I go back stage after the show to meet Zawinul. Extremely emotional, as I'm about to meet my 'legend', I walk up to him. He notices me coming, and says loudly .." HEY, THAT'S MY BOY. Overwhelmed, I'm almost teary eyed. I imagine he can feel my love for his music and I'm about to give him a hug... when he points to my JACO T-shirt and says " THATS HIM , RIGHT THERE"
I walked away, having shaken his hand, with mixed emotions ; )

I understand exactly what you mean by the durability of this music. My 14 year old bass playing son listens to nothing else. I'm trying to push Wooten. Willis. Matt Garrison and others on him... nothing doing... He going through his Jaco-phase!!!

Would be great to hear clips of you and Scott if you have any.